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The Involvement of the Forensic Anthropologist in Human Rights Issues University of Tennessee, Knoxville TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange Masters Theses Graduate School 8-2001 The Involvement of the Forensic Anthropologist in Human Rights Issues Sarah Catherine Hughes University of Tennessee, Knoxville Follow this and additional works at: https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes Part of the Anthropology Commons Recommended Citation Hughes, Sarah Catherine, "The Involvement of the Forensic Anthropologist in Human Rights Issues. " Master's Thesis, University of Tennessee, 2001. https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/4136 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in Masters Theses by an authorized administrator of TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. For more information, please contact [email protected]. To the Graduate Council: I am submitting herewith a thesis written by Sarah Catherine Hughes entitled "The Involvement of the Forensic Anthropologist in Human Rights Issues." I have examined the final electronic copy of this thesis for form and content and recommend that it be accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts, with a major in Anthropology. Murray Marks, Major Professor We have read this thesis and recommend its acceptance: Mariana Feireira, William Bass Accepted for the Council: Carolyn R. Hodges Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School (Original signatures are on file with official studentecor r ds.) The UnitlersitlJ of Tennessee The Graduate School TO THE DEAN OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL: This is to certify that SARAH. CATHERINE HUGHES A candidate for the __M.,..A....__ __ _ degree �A (passed or failed) the final examination in partial fulfillme Examining Committee· $-- !- <f / {Date) ' Please remind student of any Items checkedbelow: Pleaseensure thatstudent haa completed,prior to theexam, the Items checkedbelow : _ Must maintain/establishB average in all coursework. _ Must meet residence requirement. _ Has paid non-thesis exam fee (if not registered this term). _ Must submit diploma application for term of graduation. _ Has registered for Thesis 500or Dissertation 600 for the _ Must pay graduation fee (disregard Ifpaid In past2 current term. terms). _ Has completed or is registered for all courseslisted on _ Must remove all incompletes (if any) no later than one week . admissionto candidacy:_________ _ before graduation: ____________ _ Has obtained approval of change in committee. _ Must register for Dissertation600 for previous terms: _ Has obtained approval of updating coursework. _ Has obtained approval of extension of time limit. _ Must submit thesis/dissertationby deadline. SUBMIT EXAM RESULTS BY DEADLINE TO: Graduate Admissions and Records 218 Student ServicesBuilding Knoxville, TN 37996-0220 2100 The Involvement of the Forensic Anthropologist in Human Rights Issues A Thesis Presented for the Master of Arts Degree The University of Tennessee, Knoxville Sarah Catherine Hughes August 2001 Copyright © Sarah Catherine Hughes, 2001 All rights reserved ii Dedication There are a few people without whom I would not have been able to generate this thesis. As my mentor and friend, Dr. Karen Ramey Burns has led by example in her efforts to expose human rights violations through the use of forensic anthropology. She has been an inspiration and a constant source of guidance and support. In 1997, I spent four months volunteering for the Guatemalan Forensic Anthropology Team. Their hospitality, generosity, friendship, and courage have had a major influence on my life. It is with the utmost respect and admiration that I dedicate this thesis to Karen and the members of the Guatemalan Forensic Anthropology Team. iii Acknowledgements There are several people I would like to acknowledge for their effortsin helping me complete my Master's degree. First and foremost, I would like to thank the members of my committee: Dr. Murray K. Marks for his guidance and encouragement, Dr. Mariana Fereirra for showing me the broad spectrum of medical anthropology, and Dr. William Bass for his support and continued efforts to help students long after his retirement. I would also like to thank Dr. Karen Ramey Burns for introducing me to forensic anthropology and its applications to human rights issues. Additionally, I thank the members of the Guatemalan Forensic Anthropology Foundation for allowing me to work with them and gain from their vast experience. Thanks to Corey Sparks and Katie Weisensee for the support and motivation they provided over coffee on Tuesday mornings and to Carl Falk for his generosity of time, assistance, and cookies. To my boyfriend, Michael Reynolds, thank you for your help with all the computer problems ever, for your comfort when I am in a panic and, for all you support. And last, but not least, I would like to thank my parents and my sister for the loving and supportive family they have given me. Your guidance and assurance has always enabled me to accomplish my goals. iv Abstract All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards on another in a spirit of brotherhood. (Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article I) "Todos hombres estan hermanos." (All men are brothers; Inscription on the marker of a mass grave in Panzos, Guatemala) The theme chosen for the 2001 American Academy of Forensic Sciences meeting, War Crimes and Other Acts Against Humanity, has highlighted the recent involvement of scientists in the investigation of gross human rights violations. Genocide, political murders, and mass killings rage throughout the world: Rwanda, Bosnia, the former Yugoslavia, Serbia, and Kosovo being only the most recent examples. Forensic anthropology is a field that was established to aid in the identification of human remains once visual recognition is lost. Most often this applies to medico-legal investigations of unexplained deaths. Of recent, however, forensic anthropologists have become involved in identifying the remains and documenting evidence of torture of victims of violent political massacres found in mass graves worldwide. Sqme of their work has resulted in the successful prosecution of those responsible for the killings, but most often it is to provide a sense of closure for the survivors through identification of the V dead, as many of the survivors have lived for years without knowing the fate of their loved ones. With the exception of Karen Burns' chapter in Forensic Osteology (see Burns 1998), there has not been a comprehensive record of the involvement of forensic anthropologists in human rights issues. With this research, I hope to survey what publications there are in this area, including information drawn from primary sources' websites, with my own experience working for the Guatemalan Forensic Anthropology Foundation. This study explores the role of the forensic anthropologist in human rights issues including the pioneers in the field and the organizations with which they are involved. A discussion of the major areas of involvement, such as Argentina, Guatemala, the former Yugoslavia, and Rwanda, is also provided as well as the methods used. Also, interaction with the local community and documentation and collection of evidence is presented drawing from my experience in Guatemala. Lastly, the impact of the exhumation process on relevant regions is mentioned along with the resulting legal trials. The future of this area of involvement is also advanced. vi Table of Contents Chapter Page 1 Introduction: A brief history of the concept of Human Rights and the involvement of Anthropology... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 What are human rights?... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 The Universal Declaration of Human Rights... .. .. .. 3 Early anthropological involvement... .. .. .. ... .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 2 Human rights organizations in association with forensic anthropology... ............... ... ............... ...... ... .......................... 10 Non-governmental organizations..................... .. .. .. .. .. 11 Amnesty International... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 11 Human Rights Watch............ ... ......... ...... .......... 14 Physicians for Human Rights... .. .. ... ... .. .. .. .. .. 16 Permanent regional forensic teams....................... 17 Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team... ... .... 18 Guatemalan Forensic Anthropology Foundation............... ............... ......... .. .. 19 Inter-governmental organizations......... ............... .. ... .. 22 United Nations............... ............ ... .................. 23 3 Areas affected by gross human rights violations...... .. 28 What makes a country susceptible to human rights abuses?... ............... ... .................. ............... ............. 28 Rwanda.... ........... ..................... ............ ..................... 29 The former Yugoslavia.. .......... ... ......... ............... ...... ... 32 4 Methods of forensic anthropology as applied to human rights missions......... ......... .................. ............ ...... ...... ... ... .......... 35 Receiving a case ..................... ......... ...... ...... ......... ...... 36 Antemortem reports.... ........... ...... ... ............... ............ .. 37 Exhumation...... ...... .................. ........................ ......... 38 Analysis... ......... ................................................ ... ...... 46 Documentation.. ........; .... ...........
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